Stone Carving: A Tradition on the Brink of Disappearing “If I use machines, the tradition of hand carving will die.” — Tak Tsering Tak Tsering is one of the few remaining traditional stone-carving masters in Ladakh, carrying forward a craft that has been passed down through generations of his family. His grandfather was a renowned stone-carving master in Tibet, and the tradition was later passed on to his father. After coming into exile, his father continued the craft and taught Tak Tsering how to carve by hand. When he was young, Tak did not fully understand the importance of the craft. But over time, he came to appreciate its cultural significance and the responsibility of preserving a tradition that has been part of his family for generations. Today, he continues to carve stone by hand, despite the availability of modern machines that can make the work faster and easier. For Tak, replacing hand carving with machines could mean losing not only a skill, but also a piece of cultural heritage. He has also tried to teach stone carving to younger Tibetans, but very few are willing to take up the physically demanding craft. As Tak puts it: “Nobody wants to stay in the dirt for their whole life.” Today, there are reportedly only two well-known traditional stone-carving masters remaining in Leh, making Tak’s work even more significant. His story is a reminder that traditional crafts can disappear quietly—not because they lack value, but because fewer people are willing or able to carry them forward. What happens to a tradition when the last person who knows it stops teaching? This episode is part of Tibetans in Diaspora, a 20-episode series by Stories of Tibetans, supported by The Tibet Fund, documenting inspiring stories of Tibetans and their contributions across the diaspora. 🎥 Interview, Editing & Subtitles: Kunsang Tenzing 📷 Coordinator & Camera Assistance: Ugen Dolma